Fire-grate for cooking apparatus.



No. 630,807. Patented Aug. 8, I899. i .1. H. .GOODFELLOW.

FIRE GRATE FOB COOKING APPARATUS.

(Application fllad' on. 4, 1898.) -(llo Model.)

WITNESSES: INVE/VTZJR NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. GOODFELLOW, OF LOWVELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOJOSEPH V. PIPER, OF SAME PLACE.

FlRE-GRATE FOR COOKING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,807, dated August8, 1899.

Application filed October 4, 1898.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. GooDFELLow, of Lowell,in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImproved Slicing, sifting, and DumpingFire-Grate for Stoves and Ranges,of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to cooking stove and range fire-grates, and hasfor its objects to pro vide effectual means for removing the slag andashes from the fire-chamber; to provide a combined wood and coal gratecapable of being operated as a slicing, sifting, and dump ing grate;also, to provide means for creating oppositely-directed currents of airacross the upper face of an imperforate fire-grate, thus increasing theintensity of the heat in the center of the fire and effecting a savingof fuel in kindling the same.

The invention consists in the new and novel construction, combination,and arrangement of parts, such as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed,pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters and figures ofreference designate corresponding parts, Figures 1 and 2 are verticalsectional views of my improved grate combined with the fire-chamber,taken at the line 'y y, Fig. 4, the latter illustrating the grates intheir normal position to support the fire and the former illustratingthe grate R in position to dump the contents of the firechamber, alsothe independent movement hereinafter described. Fig. 3 is a similarviewtaken at the line a: 0:, Fig. at, looking in the opposite direction,illustrating the wood or imperforate slicer in position to kindle thefire thereon, also illustrating the introduction of heated air frombehind and cooler air from before the imperforate fuel-supports, alsoits position after slicing the fire. Fig. at illustrates a frontelevation of the grate with its bed-plate removed from thefire-chambergvith all parts in their normal position, as seen in Fig. 2;and Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the same, illustrating distinctivefeatures in my invention.

Referring to the drawings by letters and figures, A represents thefire-chamber of an ordinary range, having a front fire-plate B SerialNo. 692,656. (No model.)

and brick lining O, which rests upon a suitable bed-plate D, whichconsists of a rectangular frame, its free ends Z) I) supported by thefront jamb at 6 and its rear side by the oven-plate 7; The frontfire-plate is shown with its top edge resting against the front jamb andits bottom extended across the opening 8 between the members Z) b, withits row of fingers w curved inward toward the chamber, and is supportedat its outeredge by the said members.

a represents a series of downwardly-inclined fingers formed on theinside of said frame, the office of which is to provide sufiicientopenings for the admission of air, forming theinlet for the hot-aircurrent of the oppositely-directed currents whenever the imperforateslicer is used as a fire-kindling grate. The meeting current passes inbetween the fingers w or bottom edge of the fire-plate and front edge ofthe slicer, thus causing them to meet in the center, and therebyconcentrate the heat centrally beneath and through the fuel in thechamber. The fingers a referred to also perform the function of fillingin the space between the said bed-plate and outer surface of the slicer,preventing the passage of oinders to jam or clog the same when beingmoved backward to its normal position. (See Fig. 2.)

E and F represent suitable hangers bolted to the bottom side of the endsI) b of the bedplate D by bolts g and nuts g Each hanger is providedwith journal-bearings 7L and h, adapted to support the journals of thewoodgrate and slicer, which may consist of a segment of a cylinder H,preferably cast in two parts 72, hi'right and left, (see Fig. 4,) whichare joined together by the overlap ping ears 2' 2', and suitable boltsor rivets j j secure them together. To their outer edges are cast orotherwise connected the arms it 10 their free ends provided with thejournalsN N the former adapted to rest in the bearing h and the latteradapted to pass through the bearing h and of a sufficientlength to beconveniently reached to operate the said slicer and grate.

p 19 represent stops arranged on the segment H in a position toengage-therear inside ends of the bedplate D, (see Fig. 5,) thussupporting the said segmentin its normal position in front of theoven-plate 7, with the fingers ct extending along its upper edge. (SeeFigs. 1 and 5.)

The numerals 9 9 represent stops cast on the inside edge of the membersZ) Z) of the bedplate and in line to be struck by the stopsp p on theslicer, thus limiting its forward movement whenever turned on itsjournals N N The latter may have itsv outer end provided with a suitablesquare r, adapting it to be engaged by a shaker or wrench.

s 8 represent holes cast, drilled, or otherwise formed in the arms 70 kat a desired distance, preferably inside of the radial diameter line ofthe segment, according to the desired quantity of slag and ashes to beremoved or conveyed before the segment H as it is rotated or rocked uponits journals N N \Vithin these holes are mounted the journals V V of thegrate B, so as to freely'swing between the arms, thus supporting theheel 2O of the said grate within the radial diameter of the slicer.

The bars of the grate R are preferably made circular and conform to aless radialcircle than the slicer-segment and may continue in such acurve to the outer edge of the bottom of the fire-chamber or may beshaped by or to the reverse upward curve U, adapting said bars to meetthe fingers w of the fire-plate, or the said grate may consist of asimple fiat surface with the heel 20 dropped below the radial diameterline of the slicer and permanently fixed or cast therewith and attain toa measure the desired end, although the preferred shape of itsgrate-bars is that their upper face shall be arched or circular form,hence cannot bind or catch in its rocking movement as it is carriedbefore the slicer by the arms [1:70 from its position seen in Fig. 2 tothat seen in Fig. 3. Nevertheless I prefer to provide this grate withmeans for dumping the fire which consists, primarily, of pivotallysupporting one side of the grate and detach ably bracing or supportingthe other and means for operating the supporting means independent ofoperating the said slicer. With this end in view I construct the journalN with a suitable bore longitudinally through it. This may be done byany suitable means.

e represents a suitable shaft adapted to fit into the bore so as tofreely turn therein and having its outer end squared, adapting it to asuitable wrench, knob, key, or turn-handle device, which,if desired, maybe permanently left in position thereupon. To the opposite end of thisshaft is cast at right angles thereto or otherwise secured the pawl-armcl. To the outer end, at one side, is arranged the finger 10. Thisextends upward to meet the top of the grate B. One of its sides engagesthe outside of the bar a of said grate and prevents the shaft e fromworking out of its bore, and the finger also limits the vibratorymovement of the pawl-arm between the notched member 11 on the grate,(see Fig. 5,) which is its outer supporting position, and the journals VV, (see Fig. 1,) which is itsinncror dumping position. An arm or stop 0,cast to the side of this pawl-arm, extends therefrom at right anglesthereto in such a position that it will ride beneath the bar a tosupport the same. It is also so located that when the finger 10 is closeto the journal V the said stop will have passed beyond or below thejournal, (see Fig. 1,) allowing the grate to fall. If desired, thesepawl arms and stops may be arranged at opposite ends of the grate andthe shaft 5 extended to the journal N to support and operate apawl-arm.at that end of the grate.

As thus constructed and arranged, assuming it is desired to start afire, the grate is turned by the journal N to a positionshown in Fig. 3,the wood and coal being supplied as in common, the draft to the firepasses in beneath the fire-plate B angular, is met by the angular draftbetween the fingers a, having passed beneath the segment H, is muchrarefied as the fire progresses. The two currents meeting centrallybeneath the coals, the Wood embers are prevented from dropping by theimperforate slicer, (as would not be the case should the grate R beused,) thus efiecting a saving of fuel. )Vhen fully ignited, the shakermay be applied to thejournal at r and the slicer-grate rocked back inthe position shown in Fig. 2, thus placing the live coals upon thegrate. When it is desired to free the chamber from ashes and slag,it isbut necessary to apply the shaker or wrench to the squared end 'r andmove it from right to left as many times as desired, when it will beseen that the front edge of the segment-H acts like a plane, conveyingfrom the back toward the front each time it is moved forward. Thequantity taken out from the bottom of the fire will be nearly equal tothe space between the arcs of the grate and segment in which they move,while at the same time the entire outer surface of the imperforateslicer being smooth has no perceptible power to reverse.

tate backinto position to lock, leaving the parts in position to start afresh fire.

Another advantage in this construction of fire-grates is that thedeposit of ashes, &c., is toward the front of the ash-chamber, therebypreventing the banking of them against the front oven-plate, retardingits efficiency, and also often causing the destruction of the grate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a grate,thecombination of a segmental section, a grated section permanently locatedbetween its center of motion and the periphcry of the segmental section,and means for supporting and moving said sections across the bottom ofthe fuel, the arrangement being such that the ashes, &c., are cut outand dumped when the grate is operated.

. 2. In a grate,the combination of a segmental section, a grated sectionpivoted thereto and adapted to be dumped, and means for supporting andmoving said sections across the bottom of the fuel.

In a grate, the combination of a segmental section, a grated sectionpivoted to the segmental section between its center of motion and itsperiphery, and means for supporting and moving said sections.

4. In a g rate,the combination ofa segmental section, and a gratedsection constituting in effect a continuation of the segmental section,the bearing-surfaces of the two sections being at-difierent distancesfrom the center of motion, and means for supporting and moving saidsections across the bottom of the fuel, the arrangement being such thatthe ashes, &c., are out out and dumped when the grate is operated.

5. Ina grate,the combination of asegmental section, a grated sectionpivoted at one side to the segmental section, a trip device forsupporting the opposite side of the grated section, and means forsupporting and moving said sections across the bottom of the fuel.

6. In a grate, the combination of an imperforate segmental sect-ion,supported to rock to and fro from a center of motion, a grated sectionpivoted at one side to the segmental section or its supporting means, atrip device for supporting the opposite side of the grated section, andmeans for supporting and moving said sections across the bottom of thefuel.

7. In a fire-grate, the combination of an imperforate segmental sectionsupported to rock to and fro upon suitable arms from a center ofmotion,a grated section pivotally connected at or near its rearside endsbetween said arms, a device constructed and arranged to sustain thegrate in position to support the fuel, and means adapted to operate thesustaining device to dump the same.

8. In a fire-grate, the combination of a segmental section provided withsupportingarms, a fire-grate frame constructed to support the same,devices arranged to support and limit the movement thereof, a gratepivoted between said arms, a trip device arranged to support the gratein its operative position, means for operating the same at the will ofthe operator, and means for moving the sections across the bottom of thefuel.

9. A slicing and dumping fire-grate, consisting of an imperforatesegmental section adapted to bemoved in an arc edgewise upon suitablearms from a center of motion, a supporting bed-plate adapted thereto, agrated section pivotally supported at a less distance from the center ofmotion than the imperforate segmental section and carried by said armsand extended therefrom to support the fire, a trip device moving withthe grate to support it, whereby the grate is adapted to convey and dumpfrom the side as the ashes, &c., are sliced from beneath the fire.

10. In a fire-grate, the combination of a slicing segmental section,supported to rock to and fro upon suitable arms from a center of motion,a supportingbed-plate provided with bearings and stops adapted tosupport and limit the movement of the slicing segmental section, an opensection consisting of connected convex bars pivotally supported to dump,one of its sides arranged between the periphery of the slicer and itscenter of motion, the opposite ends of the convex bars formed in areverse curve, and means adapted to support and move the grate from andbeneath the fire.

11. In a fire-grate, the combination with a fire-chamber, agrate-section suitably supported at one side, a segmental sectionprovided with supporting-arm and hollow journals, a shaft adapted topass through said journals and carrying a trip device adapted to supportthe grated section in its operative position.

' 12. In a fire-grate, the combination of the supporting-frame, D,hangers, E and F, segmental section, II, provided with journals, N and Nsupported by said hangers, stops for limiting the movement of saidsection, grated 13. In a grate, the combination of a firechamber, agrate-frame provided with airspacesand a grate, the grate being composedof a segmental section and a grated section, the bearing-surfaces ofsaid sections being at different distances from the center of motion,and means for supporting and moving said grate across the bottom of thefuel.

14. In a grate, the combination of a firechamber, a grate-frame and agrate, the grate consisting of an imperforate section, thebearing-surfaces of the two sections being at different distances fromthe center of motion, and means for supporting and moving the grateacross the bottom of the fuel, the grate being arranged relative to thegrate-frame so as to provide air-spaces therebetween.

15. In a fire-grate, the combination of a supporting grate-frame, asegmental section cast in two parts and provided with radialsupporting-arms having journal-bearings, and a grate provided withjournals adapted to enter said bearings when the parts of the segmentalsection are secured together.

I hereunto affix my name this 13th day of September, 1898, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. GOODFELLOW.

lVitnesses:

PETER A. FAY, JOSEPH A. PIPER.

